Annah ABRAVANEL
Surf lifesaving athlete

Annah received a grant to finance her sporting season.

 What is your sporting background ?
I started surf lifesaving in 2012 at the age of nine and immediately fell in love with it. Since then, I have not stopped and I am constantly looking to improve. Since 2018 I have been a high-level lifesaving sportswoman. I was on the French junior team in 2018 and 2019 and on the French senior team in 2022, 2023 and this year. I have been a multiple French and European champion since 2017, 4th in the world and 3rd at the 2024 Australian championships. This year I will be representing France at the World Championships in Australia at the end of August, I can't wait! I will also be going to Japan in October to take part in the Japanese championships.

 How do you view your profession today ?
My sport is my passion and I live it 200%. It is a full-time job: there's training, of course, but there is also everything you don't see – recovery, diet, sleep... Everything is done to ensure that I perform as well as possible during my training sessions and competitions. I work very hard and do everything I can to become a better athlete and person every day. My sport is my life balance. It is not easy every day, but it teaches me a lot: discipline, pleasure in effort, perseverance, adaptability, organization, reflection... I am very grateful for everything my sport brings me on a daily basis, it is a real source of fulfilment.

 How do you see yourself in 5 years ? In 10 years ?
In five years' time, I see myself continuing to live my passion and travel the world to compete against the best athletes in my discipline. My sporting dreams and goals are to be world champion and Australian champion, so I hope I will have achieved them by then. As far as my academic goals are concerned, I would like to complete my Master's degree and enter the world of work.
In 10 years' time, I hope to have ticked off all my sporting objectives and made history in my sport. By then, I think I will have stopped my career and will be well established professionally.

Interview & photographs conducted in 2024
Photography credit: Lys Arango